-You won’t find a piano series of this calibre in any cities of comparable size, we suspect. All of these outstanding artists have major reputations to their credit, and among them are splendidly diverse. If you enjoy the sound of a fine piano in the hands of a major artist, you’ll want to keep us in mind.

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-We have one of the area’s very finest Steinway pianos - indeed, one of the finest you’ll hear anywhere. An 1887 New York ‘B’ (perfect size for our diminutive Music Room), it has been praised by our pianists ever since it arrived from its New York home in 1989.

Canadian pianist Luke Welch was born and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. He played his first public performance at age seven.

He has received national and international awards and grants based in both North America and Europe, including sponsorship from FACTOR/Government of Canada for this 2016-17 season. In addition to his performance commitments and private teaching, he has been based in the Netherlands and working with a number of national and international academies and arts institutions. His musical endeavors this year will include performances in Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England, and a debut visit to South Africa.

A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, where he studied piano under Heather Taves, and composition under Glenn Buhr and Linda Caitlin Smith. Keenan has experience playing from the concert halls on the East Coast, to the Café’s in Guelph, Ontario, and has collaborated and performed with musicians of all types. He has premiered more new music than he can remember. Active as a composer, he has written for ensembles from piano to orchestra, and frequently performs his music. He has self-produced 4 albums, including children’s piano music, poetry, synthesizer improvisations, and piano/soundscape music, sampling from all over the world. Recently he has taken up fiddle and loves Cape Breton fiddle music, and Oliver Schroer.

Program: Variations for the 21st century, after the Goldbergs' (2016)1 hour in length, without repeats - a set of variations modeled after the Goldberg Variations, that is, an Aria begins the piece, and the 30 variations following are variations on the bass line of that aria. Admission by Donationsuggested: $20 (students $10) - or more, of course!

Receipts for all donations of $20 or more.

July 8: Penny Johnson (Sault Ste. Marie/Mississauga)

Canadian pianist, Penny Johnson holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music, as well as Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music.

Best known for her interpretations of the music of J. S. Bach, solo recitals have included the complete Inventions & Sinfonias, Goldberg Variations and Art of Fugue. In 2013, she was a semi-finalist at the 8th International J. S. Bach Piano Competition held in Würzburg, Germany, and her passion for the music of Bach has also led her to participate in a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts, where she was a recipient of a grant from The Canada Council for the Arts. Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Penny currently resides in Mississauga where she serves on the Board of Directors for the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga. In demand as a coach and clinician, her workshop, “From the Pianist’s Toolbox: Techniques for Effectively Practicing the Music of J. S. Bach” has been presented at various branches of ORMTA.

Canadian pianist Shoshana Telner has performed across Canada and abroad. Described as an “authentic musician with a sparkling technique” (Le Droit) and “full of fire and warmth” (the New York Times), Shoshana has a passion for engaging audiences with exciting performances. She made her solo orchestral début with the National Arts Centre Orchestra at the age of 16 and has since performed as soloist with several orchestras including the Québec Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Classical Orchestra, and the National Academy Orchestra. Shoshana received a Bachelor’s degree on full scholarship from Boston University, a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York, and a Doctorate in performance from McGill University. She has taught piano and coached ensembles at McGill University, the University of Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier University, and currently teaches piano at McMaster University. She frequently gives masterclasses, adjudicates competitions, and examines for the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Shoshana has performed at numerous summer festivals including the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, the Elora Festival, the Kincardine Summer Music Festival and the Brott Music Festival. She has been awarded honors at the CMC International Stepping Stone Competition, the Esther Honens International Piano Competition and the Canadian Concerto Competition. Shoshana’s recordings include solo works of Canadian composer Colin Mack (2009), the six Bach Keyboard Partitas (2012), and the Grieg violin/piano sonatas with Jeremy Bell (2015).

Our first pianist of the autumn season is no new-comer to the Music Room! This Italian star has performed a solo concert and in several duos, including complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas cycle, since first appearing here.

“In the world of classical music, Italy has long been known for producing famous singers and conductors. For some reason, though, the list of renowned Italian pianists is considerably shorter

— Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Maurizio Pollini are among those who come to mind. However, with the release of three CDs featuring a young artist by the name of Mauro Bertoli, that list should be immediately augmented!” - Richard Haskell, The Whole Note

Bach/Siloti: Air from the Suite for Orchestra no.3 -- Grieg: Lyric pieces op.12

Mendelssohn: Variations Serieuses -- Grieg: Sonata op.7

Chopin: Andante Spianato&Grande Polonaise brillante op.22

$35 (st $20)

October 17 and 19: Marc Toth (Canada/Germany)

With these two concerts, Marc begins his long-anticipated complete series of the Beethoven Sonatas, which he has been performing in Europe and Canada for several years. Marc’s several previous performances in our Music Room were hits with our audiences - impressed not only with his virtuosity but also his unique style and witty presentation.

Coordinating with his busy teaching and concert schedule (he is now professor of piano at Frankfurt, Germany) has not been easy! (And too, we couldn’t begin until awhile after Till Fellner’s Beethoven cycle!) We are glad to at last be able to bring him back to our concerts.

detailed schedule of the Beethoven Sonatas:

Oct. 17 Sonatas1, 11, 6 & 28

Oct. 19 - Sonatas 2, 27, 20, 21

each concert: $30 (students $20)

BOTH CONCERTS: just $40 (setudents $30)

October 29 cancelled. Go to April 7:

$40 (students $25)

More of our FIFTEEN solo pianist will be added to this list ere long.

The rest, in brief:

November 9:

Agnes Wan (China/U.S.)

Praised as a “big pianist, big musician, big potential” with “compelling artistry that draws the listeners in and envelops them with musical joy,” pianist Ho Yan Agnes Wan most recently completed a six-city, eight-recital performance tour to Texas. Highlights of other prior engagements included a highly successful recital on the “Pianists of the World” series at the prestigious St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, United Kingdom, where she performed for a full house of audience; a tour to Alabama, and the season kick-off on the SPG Live! Concert Series at the Steinway Piano Gallery of Charlotte, where she performed on the legendary Horowitz piano (CD 503) as part of the piano’s Piedmont Region Tour.

A first prize winner at the Paris Grand Prize Virtuoso Music Competition and the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, Agnes Wan has also won the Loyola Concerto/Aria Competition, University of Iowa All-University Concerto/Aria Competition, and the University of Iowa Chamber Music Competition. ... [much more on her website

This prodigious Armenian simply blew the audience away in his first concert for us!

He reeturns by popular request.

Hailed as “a true heir of the mainstream of Russian pianism, like Horowitz” (CHOPIN Magazine, Japan), “a keyboard phenomenon that needs to be heard by everyone interested in pianists and the piano” (Fanfare Magazine, USA), “a formidable pianist with a commanding presence and rich interpretive gifts” (American Record Guide) and “a master of his art” (The Record Geijutsu Magazine, Japan), Raffi Besalyan has established an international reputation of a magnetic and passionate performer. Active as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, and chamber musician, Besalyan appears in many important music venues worldwide. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have praised his performances for their virility, poetry, and extraordinary technical command.

Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K.330

A. Babajanian - Prelude and Melody

E. Baghdassarian - Preludes in d minor, E Major, b minor

Chopin - Ballade No.4, Op.52

Gershwin/ Wild - Three Virtuoso Etudes - Embraceable You,

Fascinatin' Rhythm, The Man I Love

Rachmaninoff - Sonata No.2, Op.36 (Revised Version)

$35 (st $20)

January 18:

Andre LaPlante (Canada)

None of our patrons will need anything more than the name of this hugely famous Quebec artist, who graces our Music Room once again with his customary mix of elegance, heartfelt expression, and consummate virtuosity ....

Schubert sonata in A opus 120

Liszt Funérailles

Liszt Sposalizio

Chopin nocturne in c#, op. posthumus

Chopin sonata in b flat opus 35 (“Funeral March”)

$40 (students $25)

February 11:

David Jalbert (Canada)

Over the course of many appearances in our Music Room - perhaps the most memorable being his superlative account of Bach’s Goldberg Variations - David Jalbert returns with a program devoteod entirely to one of his heroes - Prokofiev!

program: All Prokofiev (tba)

$35 (st $20)

March 14: [now Raffi Besalyan]

We had heard so many good things about this remarkable pianist a few years back that we decided he merited an invitation. In his 2015 concert for us, Raffi made a hit, and then some! His brand of powerful romanticism, especially in the Russian and Armenian literature, hit the spot with our audience, and we promptly scheduled a return - and here he is!

Typical review: “... The entire hall was devoured by Besalyan’s glorious touch and crystalline sound...Besalyan was not just playing the piano, he was creating wonderful art, and treated the piano with his love for the music. ” Sotokuan Press, Osaka, Japan

Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K.330

A. Babajanian - Prelude and Melody

E. Baghdassarian - Preludes in d minor, E Major, b minor

Chopin - Ballade No.4, Op.52

Gershwin/ Wild - Three Virtuoso Etudes - Embraceable You,

Fascinatin' Rhythm, The Man I Love

Rachmaninoff - Sonata No.2, Op.36 (Revised Version)

$35 (st $20)

April 7:

Robert Dvorkin

This fine pianist from Ottawa was able to take up the same date that Till Fellner - alas! - is still unable to take up. Mr. Dvorkin performed some Debussy in our Music Room a couple of years ago and we were very impressed - he clearly loves and understands this unique music, and we think you’ll love what he has to say with it!

Debussy: Preludes, Books I and II

$30 (students $20)

April 28:

Robert Silverman (Canada)

Robert Silverman is one of Canada’s most distinguished musicians, and has been recognized as such by the Order of Canada.

Bob’s first concert for KWCMS was in 1979! Since then, he has performed for us too many times to try to count, both in chamber music and solo settings - including a complete Beethoven Sonatas and a complete Mozart Sonatas, among much else.

program: All-Chopin

Fantaisie in F Minor, Op. 49

Prelude in C# Minor, Op. 45

Two Nocturnes, Op. 62

1. B major

2. E major

Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54

Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61

Three Waltzes. Op. 64

1. D flat major (“Minute Waltz)

2. C# minor

3. A flat major

Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52

Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor.

$40 (students $25)

May 10:

Ilya Poletaev (Canada)

Ilya Poletaev has actually performed in the Music Room twice before, in 2002 and 2004. Since then his career has burgeoned - he is now a professor of piano at McGill, having meanwhile performed with the Toronto Symphony, in solo at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, and much more....

Mr. Poletaev began studying in Moscow at the age of six and continued his studies in Israel until he moved to Canada at the age of 14. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, where he studied with pianist Marietta Orlov and harpsichordist Colin Tilney, as well as a doctorate and a Master’s degree from Yale, where he studied with Boris Berman. Between 2005 and 2010 he also served on the faculties of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, the Yale Department of Music, and the Yale School of Music as a lecturer in Early Music. In the spring of 2011 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Piano at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montréal.

$35 (st $20)

All the Piano Concerts (as from July 1) are available as a subscription set at just $240 - 50% below the single-ticket price....!